Shadowcliff Opens for the Season on Memorial Day. Now Taking Reservations!

The People of Shadowcliff

 

Kelly Yarbrough - Chair

Kelly Yarbrough - Chair

Kelly Yarbrough has been in the Shadowcliff community since 2009, first as a Summer staff member and volunteer, now as a member of the board. Kelly is based in Manhattan, Kansas, and works for the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission as the Arts & Environment Specialist. She has an MFA from Kansas State University, and founded the Tallgrass Artist Residency in 2016. She is a total prairie nerd, a world traveler, and a 2021 TEDx Austin College speaker.
Leslie VonHolten - Treasurer

Leslie VonHolten - Treasurer

Leslie VonHolten is a writer and cultural program director with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit development and management. A former arts executive director, she now works as the Director of Grants & Outreach for Humanities Kansas, a statewide nonprofit that works to elevate the humanities in daily life. Leslie has served on the board of directors for the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas (a folk art environment), and was a founding member of the Percolator Artspace in Lawrence, Kansas, a 501(c)3 community art gallery and gathering place. Her strengths include designing and implementing collaborative partnerships, community advocacy, financial management, and fundraising. Her creative nonfiction and essays have been published in The New Territory, Literary Landscapes, Flint Hills Field Journal, and The Pitch, among other outlets.

Hannah Colter - Secretary

Hannah Colter - Secretary

Hannah Colter was a Shadowcliff summer staff member in 2011 and 2013. She now lives in the Denver area and works for Violence Free Colorado, the state coalition against domestic violence. Hannah has her bachelor’s in Spanish from Grinnell College and master’s in Gender and Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies/University of Sussex. She enjoys running, reading, hiking, and writing, and is looking forward to reconnecting with the Shadowcliff community as a member of the board.

Sue Rempel

Sue Rempel

Sue Rempel spent almost every summer of her life with her family in Grand Lake since 1957, building and helping with every aspect of Shadowcliff.  After an injury temporarily kept her away, she’s happily serving on the board to support Shadowcliff’s future, bringing the vision and commitment that Warren and Patt Rempel held as they built each building— their dream and life’s work.  Sue’s love of Grand Lake extended to her two sons, Alexander and Nicholas, who experienced the magic for nearly every summer of their childhoods. Sue, a hospice nurse, lives in Santa Fe, NM with her family.

Tina Casagrand

Tina Casagrand

Tina Casagrand is the founder and publisher of independent print magazine The New Territory, which has published more than 300 writers and artists focused on the nature and culture of the Lower Midwest since its founding in 2015. Most of her professional career has been spent serving environmental nonprofits through coordination and communication capacities. Her clients include the Climate + Energy Project, the Missouri Prairie Foundation, and most recently the North American Invasive Species Management Association, where she served as communications manager. She teaches nature writing, arts, and communications at the Missouri Scholars Academy and has spoken at numerous writing conferences. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelors of Journalism in magazine publishing and a Bachelors of Arts in anthropology.

Duncan Foss

Duncan Foss

"Duncan is both jack and master of trades. Unverified as Jefferson City’s first male vegan yoga teacher, he has since rolled through careers as varied as home remodeler, burner of prairies, and wildland firefighter. His proudest accomplishment, other than raising his wild children to the double digits, is serving as The New Territory’s customer service manager, where he has won “best customer service” all seven years of publication."(https://newterritorymag.com/about/our-team/) Duncan is also married to Tina Casagrand Foss and has been volunteering at Shadowcliff since 2019, lending valuable expertise to a number of May construction projects.

Kate Fanis

Kate Fanis

Kate is a Graduate Student Coordinator for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she works on the administrative aspects of the department’s graduate program- everything from application through graduation. She was on Shadowcliff staff in 2008.

Executive Administrator: Kathy Baldwin-Heitman

Executive Administrator: Kathy Baldwin-Heitman

Kathy has spent most of her professional career in Kansas City where she worked for Hallmark Cards, Inc. in a number of financial and managerial roles, ending as a director in the sales division. After Hallmark, Kathy served as the Head of the Kansas City Academy where she led the implementation of many important initiatives, including a sustainable school lunch program. Kansas City Academy was one of the first secondary schools in the Midwest to achieve Green School status. She is known as a compassionate leader and a creative thinker.

Director@shadowcliff.org

Administrative Manager: Emily Cesca

Administrative Manager: Emily Cesca

Emily has worn many hats during her 5-plus years with Shadowcliff: Assistant Manager, General Manager, resident yoga instructor, impromptu late night maintenance manager, and more. She is happy to return as Shadowcliff’s Administrative Manager, and while she may no longer be joining the summer staff onsite, she is hard at work year-round to keep the wheels turning.

Emily is a certified yoga instructor and a certified bookkeeping specialist (she likes to keep things interesting!) When she’s not assisting Shadowcliff, she teaches yoga, practices her photography, and plays her ukulele. Emily would love to connect with you, whether you are a Shadowcliff guest, volunteer, staff member, board member, group leader/participant, or fellow yogi!

admin@shadowcliff.org.

General Manager: Kimberly Carmitchel

General Manager: Kimberly Carmitchel

Kimberly is a long time seasonal resident of Grand Lake and friend of Shadowcliff. Kimberly has worked as a social worker in Grand County, as the coordinator for both the Grand County Resource Center and Grand County Horizons. She currently works as a Psychology Professor for Colorado Mountain College, and provides both psychotherapy and Functional Medicine coaching to individuals.

Kimberly loves to be outside and spends lots of time trail-running on the trails near Shadowcliff. She has 2 grown children, and 4 grandchildren, and loves spending time with them. Kimberly also spends a significant amount of time at Shadowcliff each summer and feels excited about supporting the organization in the role of General Manager.

operations@shadowcliff.org

Joseph Baldwin

Joseph Baldwin

Joe Baldwin is a senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN majoring in Human & Organizational Development with a focus in Leadership. He is involved with the campus spirit team (cheerleaders) and a Latin dance club on campus. "Fun fact: I’m Kathy’s nephew!"

 

Samaya Burde

Samaya Burde

Samaya (she/her) is currently studying for her Masters in Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design, New York. She is from Bangalore, India, where she studied Architecture. Her interest in the design community enabled her to co-found an organization with a mission to create learning experiences in the design sector, gaining knowledge and experience in social innovation and business design. While she isn't working on a design problem, you can find her drawing in a park or experimenting with food.

Chidinmma Egemonu

Chidinmma Egemonu

Chidinmma Egemonu is a current sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Cognitive Studies and Human and Organizational Development. She is interested in exploring how data analytics and human behavior interact to help create better educational environments for young people. She is excited to further explore these passions as a member of Shadowcliff's Gen Z Advisory Group!

Onyekachi Egemonu

Onyekachi Egemonu

Kachi Egemonu is currently 17 years old with a passion for marketing and business alongside graphic art and design. Kachi has a huge heart when it comes to speaking out on LGBTQ+ issues and the intricacies of intersectionality and is also a huge Percy Jackson fan! 
Benjamin Heitman

Benjamin Heitman

Benjamin (Ben) was born in Mumbai, India and came over to the U.S. in 2001. He is currently attending Jobcorps training in Albuquerque, NM for Build, Construction and Technology and hopes to go into the solar field. Ben is currently working at a hardware store in Kansas City, MO; on his days off he installs carpet, does some plumbing work, and a bit of carpentry. Ben also went through Centriq I.T. training and is a Network Administrator. Some of Ben's passions are photography, cooking and fishing as well. He has a  a deep love for trees and stars.

Fun fact: Ben is Kathy's son!
Atul Khera

Atul Khera

Atul is a leadership development consultant with demonstrated impact working with young professionals, leveraging his skills for program design and facilitation of experiential journeys and coaching. He is currently pursuing an MS in Organizational Change Management from The New School in New York City. Over the past six years, Atul has designed and facilitated fellowship and internship programs, residential and non-residential workshops in rural and urban settings with adolescents and young professionals in education, non-profit and corporations. He has coached, supervised, and engaged with more than 500 youth from India, UK, USA, Australia, Germany, and Afghanistan on their "self-to-society" leadership journeys. A Zolberg – IRC Learning and development fellow, Atul enthusiastically believes in forming cross-border connections, fostering compassion, and creating immersive experiences for young adults.

Becca Krasky

Becca Krasky

Becca (she/her) is Loretto Volunteer working at Angelica Village in Lakewood, CO. She's originally from Minneapolis, MN, and graduated from Macalester College in 2019. She is entranced by the magic of growing food, cooking that food, and sharing it in community, and wants to be a full-time regenerative farmer. You'll find her fermenting foods, reading, and hiking on the weekends.

Amy Maltz

Amy Maltz

Amy (she/her) is a current AmeriCorps member working on food justice initiatives at Hunger Free America in New York City. She is originally from Salem, Oregon and graduated from the University of San Diego in 2018 where she studied Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies and Theology. She is enjoying learning about the wonderful history of Shadowcliff both through the Gen Z Advisory Group as well through assisting with communications efforts. 

 

Sydney Sirkin

Sydney Sirkin

Sydney Sirkin is a current senior at Elon University in North Carolina. She was slated to be on the 2020 summer staff at Shadowcliff, but was stopped short due to COVID. She is thrilled to be a part of the archive team, and has thoroughly enjoyed working with Kathy and the team. Sydney is majoring in Arts Administration with minors in Theatre Design and Environmental Studies, and loves to write, camp, hike and do yoga in her free time.

Kayla Casteel

Kayla Casteel

Kayla is a former Shadowcliff staff member and volunteer. She discovered Shadowcliff late in the season on her solo motorcycle trip to Oregon. After a challenging ride to Grand Lake, staying at the lodge gave her a much needed respite and the courage to keep riding.
"The experience gave me this hope that my trip was going to be okay/to keep going. And it impacted me enough to want to go back the next season as a staff member to get the full experience and understand how it came to be there, and I'm so glad I did!"
Since her time on staff, Kayla has consistently offered her support with our donor database, communications, local/Colorado expertise, and a variety of other small projects.
Judith Christy

Judith Christy

As a former co-director, Judith brings a wealth of Shadowcliff history and expertise to the Board and staff. She has played a key role in developing Shadowcliff’s food philosophy and Compassionate Kitchen and continues to provide guidance in many Shadowcliff operational issues.

Michael Dorosh

Michael Dorosh

Michael Dorosh is a retired small business owner who now devotes his time to a number of volunteer endeavors. Since 2004, he has been Director of the annual HIV Retreat at Shadowcliff, started over 20 years ago by the founders of Shadowcliff. Michael serves as Director of Treatment Educat10n Network (TEN). Its programs include the HIV Retreat, monthly Community Educat10nal Forums, and the UB2 social group. Nationally, he is very involved in the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC) and the Global Community Advisory Board of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). He also serves on the University of Colorado ACTG CAB (Community Advisory Board) and the Colorado State ADAP Advisory Committee. He enjoys gardening, camping, hiking, and spending time with his best friend Rocket.

 

Ariana Friedlander

Ariana Friedlander

Ariana Friedlander, MPA is a community organizer, a social entrepreneur and the Founder of Rosabella Consulting, LLC. She works with leaders doing business as UNusual. Ariana specializes in fostering positive change in an organization’s culture so it remains relevant in the 21st century. Ariana received the 4th Annual Quid Novi award for Innovative Thought for EntrepreNerds™.  She has her Master’s in Organizational Leadership from the University of Delaware and her BA from Hampshire College. Ariana lives in Fort Collins, CO with her husband and daughter.

Randy Friesen

Randy Friesen

Randal Friesen, Architect – Randy first came to Shadowcliff at age 7 in 1962 and has been actively participating on a regular basis since moving to Denver in 1980 after graduating from KSU.   Randy participated on the board with founders Warren and Patt Rempel, working through the transition of SC to non-profit status and new directors Bob and Judith Mann.  He has been very involved in facility upkeep, and redesign/ remodeling processes through the years. To Randy, Shadowcliff embodies the ‘spirituality’, and helps foster the stewardship of, our beautiful earth, and he hopes to continue to strengthen that ethos.

Bill Lepentis

Bill Lepentis

Bill Lepentis - designer, professor, strategist and researcher. He has over 25 years in the architectural design, master planning, and construction management industry. His projects include social change initiatives and innovations involving the elimination of homelessness and poverty. Bill’s thesis work and concentration included innovations, services, environments and products involving play-based learning for early childhood education. The last five years has seen Bill’s design practice evolve into a design research and strategy consulting firm; linking traditional practices with new, human-centered design approaches, helping companies and organizations grow and succeed.

Doug MacClaymont

Doug MacClaymont

Doug is a Manufactures Representative specializing in electronic test and measurement equipment. He lives in Olathe Kansas. Doug visited Shadowcliff for the first time 20 years ago and has been coming back ever since. He enjoys volunteering and the opportunity to be a small part of an amazing place. He encourages everyone to come and experience Shadowcliff as a guest a volunteer or both. When Doug is not volunteering, you will find him bushwhacking and backpacking Rocky Mountain National Park.

Bob Mann

Bob Mann

Bob is a retired co-director of Shadowcliff. He continues to develop and inspire Shadowcliff programming with his wisdom and wit. As a former director, Bob is an invaluable resource to the Board about all things related to Shadowcliff and more. Bob is also very active in creating partnerships for Shadowcliff, and probably planning a future Shadowcliff workshop as you read this.

Susan Miller

Susan Miller

Susan Miller has spent more than 20 years guiding clarity and consensus for productive change. Most recently her expertise is leading companies through strategic planning, program development and process/workforce optimization. She leverages her leadership experience as a consultant, facilitator, strategist, and project manager working for and representing large national corporations, small businesses, non-profits, and start-ups, across multiple industries including education, manufacturing and the environment. Growing up in Wisconsin, she has a strong passion for the importance of accessibility to the outdoors. When she’s not brainstorming innovative solutions with clients, Susan can often be found on a body of water or on her road bike. 

Richie Nelsen

Richie Nelsen

Richie has worked in the field of Information Technology for over 15 years and currently serves as the IT Director for Colorado State University - College of Business. He has a passion for environmental stewardship and conservation. This has led him to co-found Gaia Environmental Consulting, whose mission is to promote environmental responsibility and sustainability through the implementation of policies, practices and methods. Richie hopes to help Shadowcliff visitors with safe and reliable access to the internet when they are not connecting with nature, meditating, self reflecting, rejuvenating, or learning and growing.   

Stephanie Ogburn

Stephanie Ogburn

Stephanie P. Ogburn, is a public radio journalist turned software engineer. She leads a team of software engineers at Radial Development Group, creating mobile and web applications for a variety clients. She is passionate about the environment and the outdoors, and spends much of her time trail running, mountain biking, growing food and flowers, and being outside. She has a Masters of Environmental Science from the Yale School of the Environment. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, stepchildren, and cat.

Carl Sniffen

Carl Sniffen

Having previously served as Shadowcliff volunteer, Board member, executive director, manager, group leader, donor and guest, Carl has been a part of Shadowcliff for many years. Presently, Carl lives in Oregon with Barb, kids and grandkids and works at a local middle school and coaches middle and high school aged distance runners.
Ivy Summer

Ivy Summer

Ivy discovered Shadowcliff in 2012 when she befriended its staff members just a few weeks after graduating from Kent State University with a Bachelor's in Communications and Hospitality Management. She fell in love with the lodge, the people, and the mission, and in 2014, she joined the staff. Ivy went on to earn her Master's in Business Administration from San Francisco State University and has been returning to Shadowcliff to visit every couple of years. She has a decade of experience expert in the field of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and has helped hundreds of people routinely become proactive allies to marginalized and oppressed groups in a multitude of ways. She has coached people in building a routine in their own business by doing an internal audit on contracts, websites, sales copy, imagery, email campaigns, and marketing to make inclusion a cohesive component in their brand. Outside of her DEIB work with community-based organizations, nonprofits, and big tech, Ivy has coached yoga instructors, piano teachers, retirees, parents, social media influencers, and more to help them make incremental changes to express allyship in both business and interpersonal parts of life. Aligned with her mission to empower and enable others, she offers pre-built event plans for DEIB-themed workshops that are designed for others to facilitate in their own communities.

Terry Woodbury

Terry Woodbury

Terry discovered Shadowcliff’s magic on a week-long retreat with 40 members of his Kansas City congregation in 1976.  Six of those individuals have since served as managers, staff or on the board.  He designs and facilitates processes that change an organization’s or community’s culture, and coaches CEO’s through organizational transition.  He and Eldonna have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.  They divide their time between a western Kansas ranch and Denver.

Eric Ziegenhorn

Eric Ziegenhorn

Eric Ziegenhorn is an attorney with Creative Planning Legal and practices in the areas of estate planning and  real estate.   After attending Mizzou, he got his JD from University of California-Berkeley in 1983.  He is admitted to practice law in Missouri, Kansas, California and Georgia, and lives in midtown Kansas City with his family.  Eric has presented numerous continuing legal education seminars for other lawyers and the public, and is also active as a legal writer for Thompson Reuters, for which he has authored and updates a popular three-volume set of legal forms for use by Missouri lawyers [Missouri Legal Forms 3d, West Publishing division of Thomson Reuters].  Eric works on a regular basis with the Volunteer Attorney Project (operated by the Kansas City, Missouri, Public Defenders Office), is on the Board of Directors of Bridging the Gap and the Writer's Place, and is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.